Occasionally forgetting things is just a normal fact of life. It's even somewhat expected that we'll lose portions of our memory as we age. Aside from these natural phenomena, a significant loss of memory could be a serious condition that should not be ignored.

Signs of Memory Loss

Whether you've been forgetting things that happened in the near or distant past, there are several habits that you should be aware of if your memory lapses are becoming more frequent:

Asking people to repeat the same question to you over and over

Mixing up or completely forgetting basic words as you speak

Constantly misplacing items

Getting lost often

Having trouble learning new things

Experiencing dramatic changes in your mood

Causes of Memory Loss

In some cases, the cause of your memory loss could be a single factor, and once it's identified, the problem might completely go away. Often times, memory lapses are a result of hormone imbalance, especially in the thyroid and adrenal glands. Imbalanced hormones can cause or lead to memory loss in a number of ways, including hypothyroidism

Some of the other causes of memory loss include:

Lack of sleep

Depression

Stress

Alcohol, tobacco, or recreational drug use

Poor nutrition

Head injury

Tumor

Alzheimer's

Memory Loss Diagnosis

During a consultation your doctor may cover topics such as how long you've been experiencing your memory loss, and how soon your forgetfulness became apparent.

With the information you provide, an experienced memory loss doctor will likely proceed with a physical and neurological exam to identify any health factors that may be impairing your memory. These exams are usually accompanied by a blood or urine screening to test for conditions such as a vitamin deficiency or thyroid disease. In some cases, your doctor may also order an imaging test such as a CAT scan or MRI to get a closer look at your brain and nerve tissues.

Memory Loss Treatment

Using bio-identical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) is an effective way to deal with memory loss. BHRT can provide a memory boost by replenishing your body's thyroid and adrenal glands with hormones that are chemically identical to those your body naturally produces.

Additionally, memory loss can be treated with:

Lifestyle changes

Counseling

Nutritional counseling

Over-the-counter and prescription medications

Vitamins and supplements

These treatments can help bolster your memory and improve your quality of life.

Reclaim Your Memory

BHRT and traditional medication can both help your memory. If you're worried about memory loss and aging, please call (570) 232-4766 or contact Grube Gynecology online.